Relational Well-Being Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Young Adults in Taiwan: Before and After the Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage

Abstract

<h3>Introduction</h3><p>On May 24, 2019, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalize marriage between two same-sex adults. While increasing research has been conducted in western countries to document the health and mental health effects of same-sex marriage (SSM) legalization for sexual minorities (i.e., lesbian, gay, and bisexual [LGB]), less is known about the contribution of this policy reform regarding family and marriage to relational well-being stemming from a reciprocal, authentic, and supportive relationship. Such a focus on relationship-level outcomes is particularly relevant to this study in Taiwan, where a person’s sense of well-being heavily relies on family relationships and social harmony.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Fifteen self-identified LGB adults participated in in-depth interviews, once before (April 2019) and once after (May 2020) implementation of the legislation, to describe the immediate changes they experienced or observed over this period.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Thematic analysis identified various effects of SSM legalization in fostering their self-acceptance and disclosure, prospect of romantic relationships, openness and closeness with parents, and visibility and public acceptance of LGB people that contributed to their relational well-being as a sexual minority in Taiwanese society.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Through the lens of relational well-being, this study adds a novel and culture-specific insight to contemporary discussion about the consequence of marriage equality and provides important evidence for policymakers, researchers, and activists.</p><h3>Policy Implications</h3><p>Same-sex marriage legalization can potentially strengthen relational well-being among sexual minority communities and should be considered by policymakers.</p>